The Tear

I cried once as a little boy When I dropped and broke a brand new toy. My father yelled and chastised me “Stop crying now you big baby!” “You’re three years now and that’s much too old For a boy to cry”, is what I was told. Whenever I got a hurt look on my face My father would chide, “Get this baby out of my place!” So somewhere deep down inside, My tears found a place to hide; Never to appear again To avoid hearing my Dad’s chagrin. A tough lad I turned out to be; No emotions ever coming out of me. I’ll show my Dad I can be a man - Stoic and unmoving was my plan. For thirty years a stone face I wore; No one ever knew I cried before. An emotionless bastard they labeled me Not knowing about my history. They buried Pa the other day; I followed the coffin all the way; I don’t know when it did appear - Down my cheek spilled a single tear. NOTE: Fiction. My Dad was great and I cried plenty as a boy.